Football clubs like other businesses. No fast track and no discounts. No, therefore, to the ‘amnesty’ and ad hoc installments for frozen debts, especially for Serie A. The government’s no to the proposed amendments to the Aid Decree is clear. The decision announced by Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodiand argued during a question time in the Chamber, is correct, fair from the point of view of equity.
However, the underlying theme remains. Football, which has systematically gone beyond its means, burning too much money and always pushing the showdown with budgetary needs forward, is no longer able to hold on. The law already provides for all taxpayers the right to pay in installments up to 5 years, but with a 10% fine. Obviously, that’s not enough for football. The price to pay is high, considering that the amount of debts frozen until 22 December exceeds 800 million euros between personal income tax withholdings, contributions and VAT, and that most, between 500 and 600 million, concern Serie A.
The request that comes from the world of football is always the same. ‘Save us, because we are football’. The various proposed amendments all point to the same solution: specific measures to pay off debts in a “reasonable and proportionate” way, to use the words of Lega Calcio president Lorenzo Casini.
In today’s response from Abodi, however, there is a different approach. “We realize the importance of this sector from the point of view of social relations, communication and the social economy it represents, but we do not believe the conditions exist, and we will be misinterpreted and misunderstood by public opinion, to put provision of tools that are unique to the industry”. The problem, however, remains. Because football, thanks to football to be clear, can hardly be saved if it is treated as a ‘normal’ industry.
If we really go in the direction indicated by the Minister for Sport, the only way forward is a substantial downsizing. Again, Abodi’s words explain why. “There are virtuous clubs that pay punctually all their obligations towards suppliers, members, the tax authorities and banks, invest in infrastructure and perhaps buy one less player to comply with the rules, while others have a different management paradigm and we must guarantee the principles, the values”. Right, but for many hardly sustainable. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you have to be prepared. So the house of cards is likely to come down. (from Fabio Insenga)
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